Infection of mammalian cells by picornaviruses results in the nucleocytoplasmic redistribution of certain host cell proteins. These viruses interfere with import-export pathways, allowing for the cytoplasmic accumulation of nuclear proteins that are then available to function in viral processes. We recently described the cytoplasmic relocalization of cellular splicing factor SRp20 during poliovirus infection. SRp20 is an important internal ribosome entry site (IRES) trans-acting factor (ITAF) for poliovirus IRES-mediated translation; however, it is not known whether other picornaviruses utilize SRp20 as an ITAF and direct its cytoplasmic relocalization. Also, the mechanism by which poliovirus directs the accumulation of SRp20 in the cytoplasm of the infected cell is currently unknown. Work described in this report demonstrated that infection by another picornavirus (coxsackievirus B3) causes SRp20 to relocalize from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of HeLa cells, similar to poliovirus infection; however, SRp20 is relocalized to a somewhat lesser extent in the cytoplasm of HeLa cells during infection by yet another picornavirus (human rhinovirus 16). We show that expression of poliovirus 2A proteinase is sufficient to cause the nucleocytoplasmic redistribution of SRp20. Following expression of poliovirus 2A proteinase in HeLa cells, we detect cleavage of specific nuclear pore proteins known to be cleaved during poliovirus infection. We also find that expression of human rhinovirus 16 2A proteinase alone can cause efficient cytoplasmic relocalization of SRp20, despite the lower levels of SRp20 relocalization observed during rhinovirus infection compared to poliovirus. Taken together, these results further define the mechanism of SRp20 cellular redistribution during picornavirus infections, and they provide additional insight into some of the differences observed between human rhinovirus and other enterovirus infections.
Members of the Picornaviridae family of viruses cause a range of diseases in humans, including poliomyelitis, myocarditis, and the common cold. Picornaviruses are small single-stranded, positive-sense RNA viruses that include the enteroviruses poliovirus and coxsackievirus, as well as human rhinoviruses (HRVs). They contain a ϳ7.0-kb-to-8.5-kb genome that consists of a single open reading frame, which is translated to generate a polyprotein that is proteolytically processed by viral proteinases into structural and nonstructural proteins. Instead of a 7-methyl guanosine cap structure, picornaviruses contain a small viral protein, VPg, covalently linked to the 5= end of the RNA. This unique protein-RNA linkage serves as a primer for viral RNA synthesis. Viral translation occurs via a cap-independent mechanism and is driven by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) located in the long, highly structured 5= noncoding region (5= NCR).In addition to proteolytic processing of the viral polyprotein, the viral proteinases 2A and 3C/3CD cleave several cellular proteins, including eukaryotic initiation factor 4G ...